NITROGEN BALANCE IN GROWING RED SOKOTO BUCKS FED SORGHUM HAY WITH OR WITHOUT CONCENTRATE

Abstract

Availability of forages for ruminant feeding and the quality of the forage which the animal utilizes continues to be studied. This research was conducted to determine the palatability of Sorghum hay in relation to its nutritive value by evaluating the chemical composition and the nitrogen balance in red Sokoto bucks. Animals were assigned to two dietary treatment groups such that each group consisted of three red Sokoto bucks. Those in treatment 1 (T1) were given sole sorghum hay at 2.5% of their body weight while those on treatment two (T2) were given sorghum hay and concentrates in a ratio of 60:40 (2.5%) of their body weight. The result of the experiment shows that the nitrogen balance of bucks in T2 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in T1. In conclusion feeding sole sorghum bicolor hay was not adequate to meet the nutritional requirement of red Sokoto bucks. However, supplementation of sorghum bicolor hay with concentrate at 60:40 ratios increased nitrogen retention